Launching this Summer, Crossed Wires festival is assembling the nation's top names in podcasting in one city, for one weekend.

From Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June, Sheffield's most iconic venues, including Sheffield City Hall, will be packed for blockbuster lives shows, never-seen-before performances and special guests - all hosted by the biggest names in podcasting, across comedy, current affairs, culture, sport, family and wellbeing.

Award-winning musician, Self Esteem, will join Adam Buxton on stage for a 'ramble chat' as well as a live performance. Katherine Ryan will bring her signature brand of candor, sharp-wit and unflinchingly honest advice to the City Hall. Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo will share hilarious tales of newly married life in an added stop on their sell-out tour. And Brown Girls Do It Too transport their smash-hit show to the festival for a fierce, funny, and wonderfully frank night of entertainment.

Crossed Wires is set to be podcasting's biggest party. This new festival will host the most exciting podcasting talent in Sheffield for three days, so expect to bump into the voices you always have in your headphones at one the food pop-ups, or rub shoulders with your favourite presenters at one of the many after parties.

The festival fringe - in venues around the city - will offer experiences that money can't buy. Enjoy free events with the podcast stars of tomorrow in intimate venues across the city.

As with the best festivals, not all of the special moments will be announced in advance, so expect surprise elements to appear as the weekend unfolds.

This brand-new festival is brought to you by some of the most respected names in British podcasting and live events...

Alice Levine

Co-host of My Dad Wrote A Porno and British Scandal

Dino Sofos

Founder of Persephonica, the production company behind Dua Lipa's At Your

Service, Political Currency and co-producers of Global's The News Agents

James O'Hara

Co-founder of Tramlines and Day Fever

Truly sharing a vision for a significant and inspiring national festival outside London, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will be Crossed Wires' regional partner and host sponsor. Sheffield City Council have also awarded funds to help firmly place the festival on the UK's cultural calendar.

In this first wave of announcements, Crossed Wires is proud to present:

Jon Ronson – Sheffield City Hall – Ballroom – Friday, 31 May 2024 – 7:30pm

The Gonzo journalist and podcast royalty will let the audience peer behind the curtain of his most terrific, terrifying and troubling experiences making his award winning shows.

TalkArt with Russell Tovey & Robert Diament – Sheffield City Hall – Ballroom – Saturday, 01 June 2024 – 4pm

Actor Tovey and gallerist Diament are calling all art lovers, whether dabblers or aficionados, to their live podcast show. With over 7 million downloads, it's the listen that features exclusive interviews with leading artists and curators, plus their talented friends such as Elton John, Stephen Fry and Sharon Stone.

Brown Girls Do It Too with Poppy Jay and Rubina Pabani – Sheffield City Hall – Ballroom – Saturday, 01 June 2024 – 8:30pm

Bringing their groundbreaking podcast to life, the hugely talented Poppy and Rubina will tackle the taboo topic of sex in Asian communities with audiences in Sheffield.

Wolf and Owl with Tom Davis and Romesh Ranganathan – Sheffield City Hall – Oval Hall – Sunday, 02 June 2024 – 12:30pm

For those sweet sweet souls who listen to the podcast, expect more of Tom and "party" Rom shooting the breeze but in an unedited live show. They'll be solving problems, reminding you to 'do you' but most importantly doing it to the max. There will still be no format, but there will be lots of laughs.

The Adam Buxton Show with guest Self Esteem – Sheffield City Hall – Oval Hall – Sunday, 02 June 2024 – 5pm

Podcast royalty and the artist of the moment, Self Esteem, come together for an afternoon of over-sharing, laughter and music.

Katherine Ryan: Telling Everybody Everything LIVE with special guest – Sheffield City Hall – Oval Hall – Sunday, 02 June 2024 – 8:30pm

The Patron Saint of Real Talk, will live up to her podcast titles, Telling Everybody Everything, in a no holds-barred night of eye-watering anecdotes, side-splitting stand-up, gold star guidance – and a special guest.

Uncanny: I Know What I Saw with Danny Robins - Alternative Venue

'The UK's go-to ghost guy' gathers his team of experts for a night of terrifying and thought-provoking storytelling in this stage spectacular.

“The Crossed Wires festival is further evidence of the world-leading strength of arts and culture in South Yorkshire; putting us at the forefront of one of the most innovative, exciting parts of the entertainment industry.

This three-day festival is going to be home to unique conversations and content, bringing some of the brightest and best talent from across the podcast industry here, to our region. Arts and culture make a huge contribution to South Yorkshire, so I couldn’t be more pleased to support the development and growth of our cultural offer; giving the whole world the chance to work with us and see what we can do.” – Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire

“We’re delighted that Crossed Wires has chosen to establish itself here in Sheffield. Sheffield is already home to a wealth of cultural events, such as literary festival Off the Shelf, documentary festival, Docfest and several ground-breaking music festivals, so it feels right that the UK’s flagship podcasting festival should now call us home too. We can’t wait to welcome them later this year.” – Councillor Martin Smith, Sheffield City Council

"This festival is made for podcast fans, with all the best shows in one place think the Edinburgh Fringe for podcasts..." - Crossed Wires co-founder Alice Levine

Tickets on sale now!